ERC grantees at Science is Wonderful! - 2026 edition

`Science is Wonderful!` is an annual science fair organized by the European Commission that brings the world of cutting-edge research to pupils and students from primary and secondary schools. Every year, this three-day event, free and open to all, attracts over 4000 participants from across Belgium.

This year more than 150 scientists from around the world, including ERC grantees, will engage participants through interactive experiments and hands-on activities, captivating science shows, and fun-filled games and quizzes!

If you are coming as an individual, with a small group of friends or with your family, there is no need to register - just show up and get your science on! Registrations for school classes or groups of 10 or more open on 21 January as of 12.00.

Meet the ERC grantees and their teams participating with a booth or science show!

Booths

Forests are a treasure trove of delicious snacks

• Laura Vang Rasmussen, Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

How can we turn waste into a building material?

• Erik Schlangen, Professor of Experimental Micromechanics, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Heart to heart: how good is AI?

• Aurelien Bustin, Assistant Professor, Bordeaux University, France

Save the salamanders!

• An Martel, Professor, Ghent University, Belgium

Threads of DNA: untangling hidden stories

• Cristina Valdiosera, Researcher, University of Burgos, Spain